We encourage you to cast your vote to re-elect Rosemary Rossi to the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School board. Rosemary’s student focus, knowledge, experience, leadership skills and dissatisfaction with the status quo are vital to further development of our high-performing schools, core assets to our communities.

Rosemary’s “students first” focus coupled with the initiatives she’s committed to will drive the continued growth and development of district schools. Rosemary is striving for better education through technology innovations and educational methods. She’s committed to implementing and supporting counseling and support services that will help students to better manage the challenges they face in our excellent and demanding schools. Importantly, Rosemary is committed to prudent and effective fiscal management of the district’s resources.

Help us re-elect Rosemary Rossi to the high school district board on Nov. 8.

Saundra and Allen Hill, Saratoga

Two reasons not to vote for Miller

There are two major reasons not to vote for Howard Miller in the Saratoga City Council election. Most importantly, Saratogans voted on the question of term limits for our city council in 1992. The results were nothing short of a landslide, with over 80 percent of residents voting in favor of a two-term limit for city council. While that vote was advisory rather than legally binding, every council member has honored the will of the people for the 25 years since that vote.

Howard’s decision to run for a third term may be well intended, but it is contemptuous of the strongly expressed will of our residents. We are a small town with a volunteer city council. After eight years, it is time for someone else to take Howard’s place. None of us are irreplaceable.

The second reason not to vote for Howard Miller is Highway 85. While Howard has championed noise reduction on Highway 85, as many other Saratoga council members have done, all of their efforts have been unsuccessful. Howard promises relief, but the reality is that he has no control over the VTA board, and VTA has a long track record of breaking its promises to Saratoga and other South Bay communities.

More importantly, the big threat to Saratoga is not a failure to engage in noise reduction; it is the VTA’s plan to expand Highway 85 by adding two to four lanes. That will not bring traffic relief because of the 85 bottlenecks at 280, Stevens Creek and 17, but it will bring years of construction noise and pollution and greatly expanded long-term problems with air pollution, light pollution and even more noise.

Howard Miller was the strongest proponent of adding lanes to Highway 85 until he realized that over 90 percent of Saratogans were strongly opposed; then he stopped talking about expanding Highway 85 and began talking about noise reduction.

Jeffrey A. Schwartz, Saratoga

Saratoga Open House should remain on Friday

I understand that the change to the traditional Christmas Open House in our Village from the Friday night after Thanksgiving to Saturday night was made by Mayor Manny Cappello without consultation with the Village merchants, Saratoga Village Development Council or the Chamber of Commerce or city council.

If a change of this magnitude is undertaken, it should be done well in advance and with the discussion and cooperation of the shop owners, our Saratoga Village Development Council, the Chamber of Commerce and our city council.

As Mother Christmas for the past three years, a 50-year resident and a 20-plus year participant in our Village Christmas Open House, I view this change as a mistake and think the date should revert to the usual/traditional evening of Friday, Nov. 25.

Sue Mallory, Saratoga

Supporting Smullen for Saratoga City Council

I support Dede Smullen as a new voice on the Saratoga City Council. Dede has been serving as chair of the city planning commission, been involved with traffic planning—which is becoming more important to our town—is raising a family and has a strong community focus.

She also believes we can do better than the dense, crowded townhouses approved by our current city council and being built along Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road in the Gateway area.

Jack Mallory, Saratoga

Smullen a good choice for Saratoga City Council

Dede Smullen is well-qualified to serve on Saratoga City Council. Her experience as a planning commissioner, and as a planning professional for 25 years, prepared her well to understand and handle issues that affect Saratoga. She is actively involved in community activities. She is a good listener, balanced and impartial.

Dede will treat citizens and fellow council members with due respect. If elected, she can offer fresh perspectives and at the same time, collaborate with other experienced city council members to serve in the best interest of Saratoga.

Elect Dede to Saratoga City Council. She will hit the ground running.

Emily Lo, Saratoga

Endorsing Cappello for return to city council

I am writing to endorse Manny Cappello, our current mayor, for re-election to the city council. I have served with Manny on the planning commission and have worked with him since his election to the council.

One of Manny’s best qualities is how well he listens. The longer I am involved in public service, the more obvious it becomes what an important quality this is.

Manny is always looking for common ground and ways to suggest affordable, practical solutions. When our Adult Day Care Center was threatened, Manny approached the board of supervisors to help support it, and he (and Supervisor Joe Simitian) got it done for Saratoga seniors. It is such a small amount ($40,000 a year for three years) but it makes such a big impact on many Saratoga families.

I hope you will join me in voting to re-elect Manny Cappello to the city council.

Joyce Hlava, Saratoga

Cappello is the ‘neighborhood candidate’

Manny Cappello is the “neighborhood candidate.”

Manny has not only been at the table for discussions about our city for the past six years (as the current mayor and city council member), he has shown great leadership in crafting solutions and garnering support for issues critical to the residents of Saratoga.

Manny has a deep knowledge of city government, how it works and how to get things done. He has developed strong relationships with leaders in and outside our city. He has been working hard since 2010 on behalf of constituents to keep Saratoga safe and beautiful. His vision for Saratoga makes me confident that he is the right candidate to continue serving on our city council.

He will continue to represent the needs and interests of Saratoga and is the best qualified candidate to do so. Please join me in supporting the “neighborhood candidate.” Vote for Manny Cappello for Saratoga City Council on Nov. 8.

Pragati Grover, Saratoga

Scarecrows take over Saratoga Village

Saratoga Village is abuzz with over 60 scarecrows in celebration of autumn and Halloween.

I thank Leslee Warwick of The Barn Owl for organizing this fun and festive project.

Leslee began this project October 2013. Saratogans now look forward to “Scarecrow Season” every October.

I encourage all to stroll up and down Big Basin Way to personally meet each creative and unique scarecrow. The scarecrows will put a smile in everyone’s heart.

Don’t miss the pair of scarecrows created by the kindergarten class at St. Andrew’s School. The scarecrow created by students at Saratoga Elementary School is wonderful, as is the one created by Village Preschool. Eight-year-old Cole Dunstan, along with his grandmother “Hihi,” have joined in this creative adventure with their scarecrow. The scarecrows will be on view until Nov. 1.

Please stop by The Barn Owl and thank Leslee for her dedication to Saratoga’s “Scarecrow Season.”

Laurel Perusa, Saratoga

Voting for Tseng for high school board

Los Gatos-Saratoga High School District voters need look no further than Katherine Tseng to make sure that their votes count to promote excellence in education at the high school level in our communities.

With her background as a high school board member for four years and as an actuary, she has the intelligence and experience in financial analysis and risk management to help her attain her goal of fiscal responsibility for the future direction of the district.

During her four years on the board, Katherine has always worked with the idea that our students’ education and well-being come first. She is not afraid to question the status quo and has gone above and beyond to keep her finger on the pulse of what is happening in both high schools by attending numerous sports, arts and academic events.

But most importantly, anyone who knows Katherine realizes that there is no other person better suited to represent all students’ best interests with her strong leadership ability and community spirit. Never one to promote a personal agenda, Katherine is always looking for ways to improve her community and our schools.

As an educator, former Saratoga High parent and person who has worked with Katherine in a variety of capacities, I can’t think of a better person to make a positive difference in her role as Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District board member.

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